Give Nature a Break!

Sometimes, nature needs to be left alone in order to thrive and do its job well.

That's the message Carla Sbert, Nature Canada's manager of conservation programs and legal issues, shared with CBC Radio One's Ottawa morning show listeners on behalf of everyone who feels nature deserves a break.

Inspired by her daily commute to our office in downtown Ottawa, Carla asked the National Capital Commission to help Monarch butterflies by leaving fields standing through the summer. Here's Carla's story, which was read by the show's co-host, Stu:

I have been cycling to work from Gatineau to downtown Ottawa through Leamy Lake Park  for five years. Every summer I am pained to see beautiful fields along the bike path razed down in the middle of summer. This year that happened last week and early this week, even before Canada goldenrods started blooming and just a couple of weeks after the first milkweed did. This is so unnecessary. These fields are important for declining pollinators and birds, like bees, swallows and other insect eating birds and bats. They are important for monarch butterflies, too. I hope you’ve heard about the latest research showing the importance of milkweed for monarch butterflies and the role of milkweed loss in their decline. Please give nature a break and leave fields standing through the summer.

Do you want to help monarch butterflies in your backyard or garden? Check out Nature Canada's tips on how to plant a monarch butterfly friendly garden to get started!

If there's a natural space where you live that needs a break, share your story with us. Tell us what inspired you to protect it and what can be done to ensure it gets a break in the comments section below. And don't forget to advocate for this natural space just like Carla did!

Connect with Nature: Nature, Food and Play

Photo by John Corvera (via Flickr)

It feels like we’ve hit mid-summer this week in Ottawa, but we’re really only a few weeks into the growing season. In spite of that, there’s a harvest bounty right around the corner – berries! My favourite way to enjoy berries is sun-warmed and picked fresh off the vine, but even if you’re just having a strawberry social in the backyard food is a great way to connect with the natural world all around us.

If you’re going out to pick your own berries, it’s a wonderful opportunity to just enjoy the outdoors. You can also spend some quality family time together by taking multiple generations of family members on the trip; I usually go out with my mom and grandmother to a local strawberry patch. While you’re enjoying the juicy goodness of your berries, remember all of nature’s effort that went in to producing them – the seeds, soil, rain, pollinators and sun that all came together to create the fruit you're eating.

To experience the growing process yourself, why not plant a bean tent in your backyard? They make wonderful, edible summer hideaways!

Photo by Zero-X (via Flickr)

1. Start by clearing space for your tent, raking the soil smooth and marking out a circle the diameter you want for your tent.
2. Insert poles into the earth around the circle, about a foot apart, and tie them together at the top. This makes the frame for your tent.
3. Tie strings in horizontal lines around the poles to act as a trellis that will help guide the plants. Remember to leave a space between two poles for a doorway!
4. Plant your bean seeds around the outside of your tent circle according to the instructions on the package. Water them well as they start to sprout.
5. Help your young bean plants find the tent frame and trellis strings and begin to guide them upwards. If there are any gaps, you can replant your bean seeds every couple of weeks which will also ensure that you have a constant supply of beans all summer.
6. Enjoy your shady, natural tent!

 Having a closer connection to our food sources leads to healthier lifestyles, helps us learn about the world around us and can be a lot of fun. Get outside and play with your food this month!

Connect with Nature: Get Out and Garden

Tastes like Spring by Larissa Sayer (via Flickr)

What will you be doing this weekend? Opening up the cottage? Visiting a national park? How about staying closer to home and getting out into the garden?

The May long weekend traditionally marks the start of gardening season in most parts of Canada. The danger of frost has passed and the soil has had a chance to dry out from the winter melt and spring rain. Where to start with 3 days of gardening bliss ahead?

First, decide what type of improvements you’d like to make to your garden this year: traditional, wildflower, vegetable or maybe a mix. If this is your first time gardening, remember to start small – there will always be room for changes in future years!

Garden entry by Andrea_44 (via Flickr)

Next, there’s probably some tidying up to do in the yard. Make sure to clean up any debris that has ended up in the garden over the winter, as well as any dead plants that didn’t get removed last fall. You’ll probably want to aerate the soil as well, breaking it up with a hoe or other garden tool so that air and water can bring nutrients back into it.

After all that preparation, it’s finally time to plant things! Make sure you’ve chosen plants that are suited for your region and that you follow the directions for the amount of sunlight, water and nutrients each one needs.

No matter what kind of garden you choose, an easy way to make it greener is to install a rain barrel. And if you’re in a small space that doesn’t allow for a large garden, why not try your hand at container gardening instead?

It can be easy to spend a lot of time in the garden, but remember not to overdo it. Take a break to enjoy the early spring flowers, or walk around the block and admire other people’s gardens.

What plans do you have for your garden this year? Let us know in the comments below.

Connect with Nature: Signs of Spring

A springtime robin sits in a tree.
Photo by J. Lim

Spring has sprung! The snow is melting and the sun is shining -- at least in most places across the country. The sights, smells and sounds of the changing seasons are all around us.

Some of our staff have started to see robins in their yards, and the geese have been flocking back north in their distinctive patterns. As gardens are uncovered, we can see the delicate green spikes of crocus and snowdrops pushing through the soil.

Is a crocus your first sign of Spring?
Photo by Eleanor Dallow

Getting outdoors and discovering all these signs of Spring can make a great weekend activity for the whole family. Why not turn it into a scavenger hunt to see who can spot the most seasonal changes? Or just take a few moments to appreciate the return of warmer weather on your way to or from work, or over your lunch.

And don't forget to let us know what signs of Spring are showing up in your neighbourhood in the comments below. If you'd rather capture the season in photos, why not upload them to our Flickr group? Your photo might even be selected as a photo of the month!

September Photo of the Month: Garden Snails

Check out this too cute photo from Sarah Murphy in Freelton, Ontario!

Thanks for sharing it with us, Sarah. Even though these snails are so tiny, they can't help but capture your attention.

Snails are distinguished from other gastropods by their spiral shells. These shells are formed from calcium carbonate so, like humans, snails require calcium in their diet.

Interesting fact: Most snail shells are "right-handed." If you view a snail with the shell spiral facing you, it will generally proceed in a clockwise direction from the centre to the outer opening.

Do you love this photo? Put it on your desktop!

And why not share your photo with us for the chance to be featured as Nature Canada's photo of the month.